Moyes hinted that he could stay on but said: “I'll know more come the end of the season, once we see exactly what we're able to deal with, what we can work with, then we'll know exactly what we can do.

Sunderland chief Ellis Short (Image: Getty)

“All I have done is go in and talk about some of the things that have gone on in the past and how we look to address it in the present. We have not nailed down everything because we have only had an initial conversation.

“I want to be able to have a team which would come straight back up. When we get to the end we will have another conversation.

Moyes has been criticised for admitting last August the club was in a relegation fight.

He explained: “When I look back on it I was very honest, forthright, told people what I thought.